It’s not always easy to feel grateful, especially when the skies are gray and our workload seems never ending. As the day trudges by with the minutes feeling like hours on our mood drops, our shoulders sag and with furrowed brows, we find ourselves wishing for the day to end. But while we are busy wishing away our lives we could be busy reminding ourselves of why we love it, for it is in these moments when reacquainting ourselves with gratefulness is the most important and beneficial.

The beauty of this exercise is it is suitable for everyone regardless of age and gender, and if you’re free as a bird or have a schedule that’s jam-packed until 2027, then it can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Here’s what to do:

Choose your preferred method of recording no matter if it’s mentally, handwritten, typed, spoken to a friend or in the mirror.

Settle on a number of things you would like to note being grateful for. (Quick tip: three is often a great starting point and you can always add more if you wish to).

Start your sentence with ‘I am grateful for’ and then shoot away!

It doesn’t matter what you choose to focus on, maybe it’s the smile a stranger gave you this morning, the drink in your hand, your favorite memory or simply being alive, whatever works for you.

Now take a moment to take your choices in, chances are you’ll be feeling a little lighter and hopefully the day seems a little brighter!

It’s a well-known fact that it takes approximately twenty-one days for something to become a habit, so with the new year in full swing why not challenge yourself to make this a new one of yours. It can be done at any point in the day; do it in the morning to start your day off on a positive note, maybe in the middle of the day when you’re feeling the strain and in need of a quick pick-me-up that isn’t alcoholic, or at the end of the day as a point of reflection.

You’ll be feeling the benefit in no time, and I have no doubt you’ll be grateful for it.

Beautiful article! 😊 The trick is to stick to being grateful for a couple of days irrespective of whether you are having a good or bad day! The practice will eventually become a part of your daily routine.